434 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



2. Lutjanus argentiventris. rargo amariUo. 



Mmoprion ar<jenticcn1r\i), Peters, Berlin. Monatsber., 1869, 704 (Mazatlan). 



Lutjanus argentiveniris, Jordan, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Pliila., 1883, 285 (Mazatlan). 



Mesopriou griseus, Giiuther, Fishes Central America, 1863, 385 (name only: 

 Pacilic) (not of C. &V.). 



Lufjainis arfieniivUtatus, Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mas., 1881, 354 ; Jor- 

 dan & Gilbert loc. cit., Bull., 1882, 107, 110 (Mazatlan; Panama); Jordan 

 &, Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 188.2, G25 (Panama) {lapsua calami for 

 argentiventris).* 



Habitat. — Mazatlan and Panama. 



Head, lif (3^) ; depth, 2f (31). D. X, 14 • A. Ill, 8. Scales 5-45-12. 

 45 pores. Length (28254, Mazatlan), 11 inches. 



Body formed as in Lutjanus caxis, moderately compressed, the back 

 considerably elevated. Profile straight or slightly concave from snout 

 to nape. The nuchal region rather convex. Snout long and pointed, 

 anteriorly somewhat depressed ; its length 3 in head. Eye moderate, 4;^ 

 in head ; interorbital space very gently convex ; its width 6i in head. 

 Mouth large, maxillary reaching a little past front of orbit ; its length 

 3 in head; upper jaw with two strong canines in front rather weaker 

 than in L. caxu; lower jaw with the teeth in the outer series enlarged, 

 some of the lateral teeth largest, but scarcely canine-like; teeth on 

 tongue in a single large oblong patch ; teetli on vomer forming an arrow- 

 shaped patch, with a long backward prolongation on the median line. 

 . Gill-rakers rather few and short, about 7 on lower part of anterior 

 arch, these not preceded by rudiments. 



Preopercle with its posterior margin extending downwards and for- 

 wards, very weakly emarginate, finely serrate above, almost entire at 

 the angle. 



Scales large, much as in L. caxis ^ the series above the lateral line 

 almost horizontal, and throughout parallel with the lateral line; scales 

 below lateral line anteriorly in series running somewhat upward and 

 backward ; posteriorly in horizontal series ; six rows of scales on the 

 cheek ; a band of about three series of rather large scales on the tem- 

 poral region. Soft dorsal and anal scaly; tubes of lateral line each 

 with 4 or 5 branches. 



Dorsal spines strong, the longest 2f in head. Margin of soft dorsal 

 well rounded, the middle rays 3 in head. Caudal not deeply forked, 

 the upper lobe If in head. Anal fin rather high, somewhat rounded, 

 the longest rays 2^ in head. Anal spines strong, the second stronger 

 and larger than third, 3f in head. Ventrals 2 in head. Pectorals reach- 

 ing about to front of anal, 1^ in head. 



Color in spirits brownish above, paler below; each scale of sides 

 somewhat silvery near its middle, these forming narrow and rather 

 distinct dull silvery streaks which follow the direction of the rows of 



* Our only copy of Dr. Peters' paper at the time these papers were printed was a 

 manuscript transcription. In this, by a slip of the i)en of the cox^yist, argentiventris 

 became " arijentivittatus." 



